Quick opening door



Dec. 31,1957 J. A. SCARLETT QUICK OPENING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 28, 1956 I/j/VTOR.

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7 J. A. SCARLETT 2,818,195

QUICK OPENIINC DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1956 Arm/2,0675.

United States Patent QUICK OPENING DOOR John A. Scarlett, Cincinnati,Ohio Application September 28, 1956, Serial No. 612,611

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-57) This invention relates to closures and isparticularly directed to a novel door construction adapted to provide aquick opening, fluid-tight closure for fluent material treatingmachines, such as mulling machines, and high pressure vessels, such asretorts and the like.

The principal object of the present, invention is to provide a hingeddoor of extremely simple construction which can readily be swung betweenan open and closed position; and can easily be locked and firmly held ina closed position to provide a fluid tight closure for the door opening.

More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon the conceptof pivotally mounting a door adjacent to one end of an elongatedrotatable handle member. In addition to the door the handle membercarries a plurality of locking fingers adapted to cooperate with a likeplurality of spaced, stationary, camming lugs surrounding the dooropening. The elongated handle is.

loosely mounted at an intermediate portion on a hinge pin about whichthe handle is rotated to swing the door toward and away from the dooropening. Suflicient play is provided between the hinge pin and handle tofacilitate pivoting the handle for effecting engagement of the lockingfingers with the camming lugs. The cooperative engagement of thesemembers causes the door to be tightly seated in the door opening andprovides a firm lock for holding the door in that position.

In a preferred embodiment, the door opening is formed in a plateconstituting one part of a door unit. This plate is adapted to be boltedor otherwise secured to a chamber wall; and includes an inwardlyextending annular flange adapted to fit snugly within the wall opening.This annular flange surrounds an inwardly tapered door opening adaptedto receive a similarly tapered circular door. In the preferredembodiment, when the door is fully closed, the inner face of the doorand surrounding annular flange reside flush with the wall of thechamber.

The outer face of the door carries an outwardly projecting pin which isrotatably journaled adjacent to one end of an elongated handle member.This end of the handle member also carries a plurality of radiallyprojecting locking fingers adapted to pass between the lugs formed onthe outer surface of thebase plate when the door is shifted between anopen and closed position. After the door has been substantially closed,the handle is adapted to be rotated about its pivotal connection withthe door to pivot the locking fingers beneath the camming lugs andthereby apply substantial closing pressure to the door forcing itagainst its tapered seat and forming a fluid-tight seal. When the dooris opened, the handle is first pivoted about the door pin to disengagethe locking fingers from the lugs. The handle is'then rotated outwardlyabout the hinge pinto withdraw the door from the opening and shift it toa position removed from the chamber wall.

One of the principal advantages of the present door 2,818,195 PatentedDec. 31, 1957 ICC construction is that it is extremely simple tooperate. A workman can close the door by grasping the elongated handleand rotating the handle about its hinge to bring the door into registrywith the door opening. The workman then merely pivots the handle in asecond plane, engaging the locking fingers and lugs, to tightly closethe door and lock it in its closed position. The door is readily openedby reversing this operation.

Another advantage of the present invention is that by merely pivotingthe door until the locking fingers engage abutments formed on the lugs,a workman can be certain that the door is closed with exactly the sameclosing pressure each time that it is operated.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the door is ofextremely simple construction and can readily and economically bemanufactured. The door unit includes a minimum number of parts requiringvery little machining. Moreover, the machining required is of anextremely simple nature, i. e.: turning and facing, so that no expensivejigs or tooling setups are necessary.

A still further advantage of the present door construction is that itincorporates means for readily adjusting the closing pressure on thedoor to compensate for wear in the door or other parts, such as thelocking fingers and cams. In the present construction, the closingpressure can readily be increased by disengaging the door and handle andinserting one or more washers or other shim members between the door andhandle.

The present door construction also provides particular advantages whenused in connection with mullers and similar equipment. As indicatedabove, the present door and the surrounding portions of the base plateare adapted to reside in flush relationship within the inner wall of themuller so that the door does not interfere in any way with the operationof the muller rollers and scrapers and does not cause any damage tothese members.

A still further advantage of the present door when applied to a mulleror other apparatus where a door is apt to become worn after extensiveuse is that the door unit can readily be replaced in the field. Byloosening the bolts or other securing means the base plate handle anddoor can quickly be removed as a unit from a machine and replaced with anew base plate, handle, and door unit.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore readily apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription of the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a partial elevational view of a door constructed inaccordance with the present invention, the door being shown in theclosed and latched position;

Figure 2 is an elevational view shown of a door in a closed butunlatched position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 4-4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 1.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, one form of door unit 10 constructedin accordance with the present invention is adapted to enclose acircular opening 11 formed in a wall 12 of a chamber 13. The presentdoor can be used in conjunction with many types of apparatus; forexample, a muller of the type shown in my copending application SerialNo. 412,713 for Muller. In such an installation the door is mountedbeneath the bottom wall of the muller and provides a closure for thematerial discharge opening. The present door is also adapted to be usedin conjunction with various 59 .5, of pressure vessels; such as,retorts, tanks and the like.

In the embodiment shown, door unit 10 comprises a base plate 14 formedof cast steel, stainless steel,.-alumi-. num or other suitable material.This plate is of gen eral-ly square outline, one peripheral edge: of theplatebeing slightly rounded to conform to the outer wall of chamber 13.Base plate 14 is. provided with a central opening 15, which ispreferably circular in. shape. An annular flange 16 is formed ontheinner face of the support plate surrounding this opening. As bestshown in Figure 4, the opening formed within thisflange tapers inwardlyforming a conical wall 17 adapted for cooperative engagement withclosure member'18.

Annular flange 16 is preferably of the, same height as the thickness ofwall 12 of the chamber so that when the base plate is installed, theinner face 20 of the flange lies flush with the inner surface 21 of wall12. In the preferred embodiment, base plate 14is-removably secured towall. 121 by means of a plurality of bolts 22 which threadably engageopenings 23 formed in wall 12, the bolts being ground flush with theinner surface of the wall. The outer periphery 24 of flange 16 snuglyfits within circular opening 15' of wall 12 so that a fluid-tight 16.The outer face of the door is provided with a central boss 26 whichextends outwardly from the door and terminates in an annular shoulder27. A pivot pin 28 extends outwardly from the boss. This pin can beformed integral with the boss or can be mounted on the boss in anysuitable manner such as being press fit in an opening formed in theboss. Pin 28 includes a smooth circular bearing portion 30 disposedadjacent to shoulder 27 and a threaded outer portion 31 having atransverse bore 32 formed therein for receiving a cotter pin 33'.

Door 18 is rotatably carried by a handle member 34. This member includesan elongated handle portion 35 and a latching portion 36. The latchingportion 36 of handle member 34 is provided with a central bore 37 forreceiving bearing portion 30 of pin 28. A nut 38 threadably engages theend of the pin and abuts the outer face of the handle. This nut isprovided with a series of grooves 4i) adapted to receive cotter pin 33to prevent the nut from loosening in use. It is to be understood-thatthe nut is tightened until the inner face of latching surface 36 abutsshoulder 27 of pin 28. However, as explained below, one or more shimwashers 41 may be placedover the pin between the shoulder and handlemember inorder to increase the closing pressure and provide anabsolutelytight fit between the door and annular flange 16.

Handle member 34 is carried by a stationary hinge pin or rod 42 mountedupon brackets 43. These brackets can be cast or otherwise formedintegral with plate member 14 or can be formed separately and joined tothe plate member or adjacent chamber wall in any suitable manner, suchas by welding, brazing or the like. As shown in Figures l-3, hinge pin42 extends transversely of the handle. One end of the pinthreadably'engages bracket 43 while the opposite end of the rod carriesa head 44 in abutment with the other bracket. The intermediate portionof the handle is formed with a transverse. slot 45 of substantiallygreater width than the diameter of pin 42. In the embodiment shown, thisintermediate portion of the handle is provided with a thickened area 46for strengthening the handle adjacent to the transverse bore. The widthof slot 45 must be sufliciently great to. permit the handle to pivotabout pin 28 a sufficient distance to effect engagement anddisengagement of locking fingers ae ator 4 v pre erably includes. relatiely st igh edge. 50 adap to abut a shoulder 51 formed in the slot ofeach of the lugs 48. Lugs 48 are formed integral with plate 14, or arefirmly secured thereto, as by welding, brazing or the like. Each ofthese lugs includes an outwardly extending portion 52 and anover-hanging lip portion 53 spaced from the outer face of plate 14. Eachof the over-hanging portions 53 includes a tapered inner face 54 slopingtoward plate 14 from the tip 55. of the lug to shoulder 51. While fourlatching fingers and lugs are shown, it is to be understood that agreater number can be provided ifdesired. Itis necessary however, thatthe lugs be spaced apart a s ufiicient distance to. permit the latchingfingers to pass between" adjacent lugs.

When the door is in the open position, the door and handle are carriedand supported by pin 42. The door is adapted to be pivoted to apartially open position as shown. by. dotted lines56 in Figure 4-, or toa fully open position. in which the-handle is rotated still furtherabout pir1 .42,j2 1nd thejdoor depends in a substantially vertical planeso thatwcentral. opening 15 is completely unobstructed.

In order to, close. the door, the workman grasps the handle portion 35and rotates the handle about support rod 42 so as to advance door 18toward opening 15. Since the inner face of the door is appreciablysmaller than the outer face of the opening, the door is self-centeringas it enters the opening. When the door is substantially in its closedposition, and is partially seated within the annular flange, theoperator pivots handle member 34 about pin 28. The handle swings freelyrelative to hinge 42 because of the clearance provided in slot 45. Asthe handle member rotates, each of the locking fingers 47 passes beneathan over-hanging portion of one of the lugs 48 and engages the taperedinner face of the lug.

Consequently, as the handle is pivoted toward the latched position,shown in Figure l, in which the leading edges of the locking fingers arebrought into abutment with shoulders 51 of the bayonet lugs, thelatching portion of the handle member is forced inwardly toward the wall12 of" the chamber. The locking portion of the handle member inturnforces door 18* inwardly, so that the tapered periphery of the door iswedged tightly against the tapered wall of flange 16' and a fluid tightseal is formed. Solong as the operator pivots the handle to a fullylatched position with the leading edges of the locking fingersin'engagement with the shoulders of the bayonet lugs, the. same sealingpressure will be exerted on the door each time it is closed. Moreover,in the preferred embodiment the inner face of the door will be flushwith theinner surface of wall 12. This is particularly important the'rnuller, since unlessthe door is substantially flushed with the bottom.wall of the muller, the rollers or scrapers. would. be damaged.

After long periodsof: use'if the lugs, latching fingers or door wean,so; that the. door no. longer provides a fluidtight seal, the closingpressure can. readily be adjusted to again tightly seal. opening 15..This adjustment is efiected byrernoving nut 38 and disengaging the doorfrom handle member. Thereafter one or more shim members 41' are placed;over pin 28,. between shoulder 27 and the handle member which is;replaced over the pin and is tightly secured in place by threading nut33 inwardly. It will readily be apparent that after one, or more shimshave been inserted in this manner, when the latching Portion. of thehandle, member is. forced inwardly by the camming sin-faces of thebayonet lugs, the tapered door will be forced into. opening 15 anadditional amount equal to. the thickness of 12116581111118. Thus, byselecting shims of sufiicientthickness to compensate for wear of thedoor and latching elements, the closing pressure can readily be adjustedto, close the door tightly and thereby provide a leak proof seal for thechamber.

35 and pivots it about pin 28 in the opposite direction to that employedin closing the door. This disengages fingers 47 from the bayonet lugs.Again the handle shifts freely relative to hinge pin 42 because of thesubstantial play provided between that pin and slot 45. After the handlehas been pivoted a sufiicient distance so that the fingers clear thelugs as shown in Figure 2, the handle is rotated outwardly about hingepin to withdraw door 18 from opening 15. When the door is opened in thismanner, the weight of the handle and door are supported by pin 42; andthe door can be pivoted downwardly to a completely open position andreleased by the operator.

From the above description of the general principles of the presentinvention and the foregoing detailed disclosure of a preferredembodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the variousmodifications to which the invention is susceptible. For example, it iscontemplated that the present door can be modified to incorporate one ormore gaskets if desired. Also the door unit could be welded orpermanently mounted adjacent to the wall opening if desired. It willalso readily be appreciated that the present door construction issusceptible of being manufactured in an extremely wide variety of sizeswithout changing the basic construction of the door. These sizes rangefrom a door a few inches in diameter adapted to serve as a peep-hole forvisual inspection of a vessel, to a door large enough to provide rapiddischarge of material from a large vessel.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A door unit comprising a base plate configurated to form an inwardlytapered opening, a plurality of camming lugs formed on said base platein spaced relationship about the periphery of said opening, hinge pinsupporting brackets formed on said base plate, a hinge pin extendingbetween said brackets, an elongated handle member having a transversebore formed in an intermediate portion thereof, said transverse borebeing of substantially greater width in a direction longitudinally ofsaid handle member than the diameter of said hinge pin, said handlemember including a handle portion disposed on one side of said hinge pinand a latching portion disposed on the opposite side of said hinge pin,said latching portion including a central aperture and a plurality ofradially extending latching fingers disposed for cooperative engagementwith said lugs, a door member of substantially the same size as saidopening and having a tapered periphery, and a pin carried by said doormember and adapted to be rotatably journaled in said aperture.

2. A door unit comprising a base plate configurated to form an inwardlytapered opening, a plurality of camming lugs formed on said base platein spaced relationship about the periphery of said opening, hinge pinsupporting brackets formed on said base plate, a hinge pin extendingbetween said brackets, an elongated handle member having a transversebore formed in an intermediate portion thereof, said transverse borebeing of substantially greater Width in a direction longitudinally ofsaid handle member than the diameter of said hinge pin, said handlemember including a handle portion disposed on one side of said hinge pinand a latching portion disposed on the opposite side of said hinge pin,said latching portion including a central aperture and a plurality ofradially extending latching fingers disposed for cooperative engagementwith said lugs, a door member of substantially the same size as saidopening and having a tapered periphery, a pin carried by said doormember and adapted to be rotatably journaled in said aperture, and meansfor adjusting the closing pressure on said door, said means comprising amember adapted to be mounted over said pin intermediate the door andhandle.

3. A door unit comprising a base plate configurated to form a taperedcentral opening, a plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed on saidbase plate in spaced relationship about the periphery of said opening,hinge pin supporting brackets formed on said base plate, a hinge pinextending between said brackets, an elongated handle member having atransverse bore formed in an intermediate portion thereof, saidtransverse bore being of substantially greater width in a directionlongitudinally of said handle member than the diameter of said hingepin, said handle member including a handle portion disposed on one sideof said hinge pin and a latching portion disposed on the opposite sideof said hinge pin, said latching portion including a central apertureand plurality of radially extending latching fingers disposed forcooperative engagement with said lugs, said lugs including abutmentmeans for limiting relative movement of the fingers, a door member ofsubstantially the same size of said opening and having a taperedperiphery, a pin carried by said door member and adapted to be rotatablyjournaled in said aperture.

4. A door unit adapted to provide a closure for a wall opening, saidunit comprising a base plate configurated to form a central opening, aninwardly extending flange surrounding the opening, a plurality of spacedlugs formed on said base plate in spaced relationship about theperiphery of said opening, a hinge pin mounted upon said base plate, anelongated handle member having a transverse bore formed in intermediateportion thereof, said transverse bore being of substantially greaterwidth in a direction longitudinally of said handle member than thediameter of said hinge pin, said handle member including a handleportion disposed on one side of said hinge pin and a latching portiondisposed on the opposite side of said hinge pin, said latching portionincluding a central aperture and a plurality of radially extendinglatching fingers disposed for cooperative engagement with said lugs, adoor member substantially the same configuration as said opening, a pincarried by said door member and adapted to be rotatably journaled insaid aperture, and means securing said base plate to a wall, said flangeand door being disposed flush with the inner surface of said wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,909,554 Stant May 16, 1933 2,641,284 Loeffler June 9, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 500,838 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1939

